Firefly Lane

by Kristin Hannah

This book was not what I expected it to be. I initially picked it up for the cover, and read the book jacket blurb and thought ok, could be good for chic lit. And it is chic lit, in the sense that it’s about women and women are probably the ideal readers for it. But it is not the overly sentimental, fluff read that most chic lit is. This is a book with some grit. It’s the story of two women, Kate and Tully, who became friends as teenagers despite the fact that they are opposites in almost every way. Each section of the book follows them through different decades, as their lives start to branch separate ways. It shows how a friendship grows and changes due to so many things: heartbreak, hope, abandonment, ambition, betrayal, love. It’s told in 3rd person, but sometimes the narration hovers over Kate and sometimes over Tully, so you get a good perspective on both of them, and can relate to both. The writing is good, and the author really knows how to write the tough emotions. I enjoyed it quite a bit (more than I thought I would), and the end was particularly poignant. I recommend it. It’s not a light and easy read, but it is good.
 

I give it 4/5 stars.